GORR - May 2015

Another month flashes by and April certainly was a real mixture of ups and downs.

The ups were the final shows which were in Scotland and it was so nice to meet up with so many old friends there. The speeding ticket on the way home kindly given by a camera van on a bridge blotted the enjoyment of Scotland somewhat but there you go. I am actually all for speed cameras in accident black spots and areas where there are schools and small villages etc, but on a bridge on a pretty empty motorway stretch?.........well, I leave you to draw your own conclusions!

Anyway the shows were great fun and I look forward to going back next year for some more...which incidentally is the plan...Part 2 of the tour will happen during the first few months of 2016 and indeed is being booked as I write.

I also managed to squeeze in some recording with Erik for some American artistes which was great to do and shortly after that flew to Vicenza which is one of my favourite Italian towns and indeed has my all time favourite theatre anywhere I have had the pleasure of playing. Teatro Olimpico is quite astonishing and well worth checking out if you ever have the opportunity.

Take a look at this photo of the theatre...

And now look again...it’s not the front of the theatre but the stage. Built of stone with an amazing street in the middle heading backwards that looks 50 metres long but is in fact less than ten metres as the perspective is so genius.

On the 30th I filmed a programme for Vintage Television which featured The Zombies. Old friends and great musicians. The broadcast date is not known yet but it will be on the site as soon as we are given it.

As regards the “downs” of the month, they are all health related. I have to finally own up now and admit to myself that I can’t continue at the breakneck pace I have been for the last year or so and especially this year where there has been no respite. Long hours and long consecutive days took their toll and after failing an MOT by the doctors, I have been given strict instructions to slow down, lose weight and be more sensible in all I do. Much as it grieves me....I realise that I am no longer a spring chicken, but more luck a very old cockerel and so the diary has been culled quite violently, the diet is in full swing and mentally that has helped me as well. It won’t stop me doing all I want to do with my music and life, it’s just going to take that little bit longer!

And now into May.

The broadcast of the Vivaldi Perspectives programme is Sunday May 3rd at 10.35pm on ITV. I am really looking forward to seeing the finished result as it was such a joy to be a part of the making of this programme.

I also have an interesting meeting with a promoter for India which is a country I have always wanted to perform in with the English Rock Ensemble and so hopefully this is the first step down that path in making this happen.

On the 9th at the Bloomsbury Theatre it’s the Viv Stanshall celebration show which has become an annual event and just great fun. If you haven’t managed to catch one of the shows in the past, then I urge you to make an effort and come along. It’s such fun to be a part of it.

I have a BBC 3 Radio interview to do this month as well naming 10 of my favourite classical pieces and talking as to why I like them. This was not easy as if you pick obscure pieces then people just change stations!....if you pick all time favourites people think you’re boring and so I have tried to select from middle ground. We shall see!

On the 24th May at the Hippodrome in London there is an Audience with Paul Daniels, as past King Rat and indeed proceeds are going to the Water Rats. If you can make it, it really will be a fun night.

At the end of May I will be recording at the Granary with the extremely talented young soprano Emmie Beckett who is just 14 years of age and a real talent. I can’t say what we are recording at the moment but as soon as I am allowed to release this information you will be the first to know.

And in closing....June has been designated a relatively quiet month and so next month’s GORR will feature heavily on all things planned for the latter half of the year.